a De Lu

Black Baccara roses. The rare, velvet-dark blooms were one of the

own open, slamming against its frame. Alessandro st

r thorn with a precise, metallic click

stood beside me. "What did you do to

cid. "I did nothing. I simply followed your father's directive. Or would you prefer to e

it worked. His anger had nowhere to go.

s replaced by a false, placating softness. "Katarina, we don't have t

opened it. Inside, nestled on a bed of white satin, was a necklace-a stunnin

ted it." He was trying to buy my forgiveness, to settle the ac

ad wanted it, once. Now, the

my humiliation?" I asked,

e to make things so difficult? Aria is a distraction. A toy. You a

nfidelity, her corruption, and my pu

ed to him turned to dust. I finally understood. In his eyes, Aria and I were t

ne smile gracing my lips.

ught he had won. He thought I had a

weight. "So," I said, my eyes meeting

l Mark. Tell him to reactivate Aria's accounts. Say you'

He wanted me to personally undo my

ed, but it didn

mirror hanging on the wall. I fastened the clasp behind my neck. The sapphire

face was pale, beaut

I said, more to m

d, arrogant expression. The m

mask of wifely obedience. I to

sandro. I'll t